Best Beginner Guitar: 2024 Buying Guide & Reviews

Seagull is a Canadian acoustic specialist that has made a huge impact on the guitar market globally. This particular model, the S6, has over the years become a fairly uncontroversial winner amongst amateur players. Let it be said that it more than deserves to be seen as one of the best guitars around – for experienced guitarists as much as for beginners – and this owes much to its uniqueness.

The combination of tonewoods used is one of the most remarkable things about this guitar. The clarity provided by its cedar top is combined with the unusual sound of wild cherry, which makes up the back and sides of this beautiful model. The neck is, less surprisingly, rosewood – which is pretty much a staple for acoustic guitars.

With the S6, Seagull has also made a neck which is wonderfully easy to play. It is slightly shorter than the necks of most acoustic guitars. And, whilst it might be slightly chunkier than usual, the neck’s rosewood allows easy movement.

The slim dreadnought shape makes this an unorthodox and brilliant budget guitar.

For a beginner willing to splash out just that little extra, this will be a guitar for life. Whilst it may sound a little unorthodox, its sublime playability and its pristine construction make the Seagull S6 a winner.

Pros:

• For playability, the S6 is unbeatable.
• Very unique – and it really works.

Cons:

• The unusual tone that the tonewood provides might not be as versatile as a beginner would like.

Pros:

• The classic look gives the CD-60SCE a traditional, recognisable feel, whilst offering great upgraded specifications.
• You won’t fear that it’ll break or give up on you – as it is very competently made.
• One of the easiest acoustic guitar to play.

Cons:

• The dreadnought shape might be a bit big for kids.

Yamaha should already be a familiar name due to its impressive line of beginner electric guitars. Yet, this trusted brand strikes again with a fantastic, reliable acoustic.

The FG800 is another dreadnought, and again with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides. This time, however, the top is not laminate, something which gives Yamaha’s model a bit of an edge over Fender’s similarly priced beginner guitar. The FG800’s sound is cracking, actually: loud, resonant, and full-bodied.

Playability is where Yamaha’s model might be lacking, though. The action is, unfortunately, uncomfortably high, and, for a beginner, this might result in sore fingers – or, at least, fingers that are sorer than you’d want when playing the guitar. The thinner neck tries to counteract this, and it does so to a degree.

Nonetheless, for the sound alone, this guitar makes for another great option in your search for the best starter acoustic guitar.

It’s a shame about the action on the Yamaha FG800. However, this doesn’t really detract from the incredible advantages this acoustic gives in terms of sound, look, and construction. As ever, when it comes to beginner instruments, if in doubt, go Yamaha.

Pros:

• The best sound you’ll get in this price range.

Cons:

• The high action somewhat reduces playability.

Epiphone continues its tradition of brilliant budget guitars with this acoustic. The DR-100 sits at the very cheapest end of things, but its specifications make it a guitar that punches well above its weight.

It comes in a classic dreadnought model, with no cutaway or electric components. This shouldn’t be too much of a problem for a beginner – unless you are very ambitious! – and the straightforward design with a nice shapely pickguard should makes it a lovely guitar to behold.

The spruce top and mahogany back and sides add another familiar element to this guitar’s aesthetic, and they provide a fairly standard combination that offers a reliable, well-balanced, and versatile tone. Whilst it’s not the best sounding guitar you will ever hear, for this price no-one is going to argue: it is loud and resonant enough to satisfy every bedroom player.

The particularly nice thing about this DR-100 is the Epiphone SlimTaper neck, which makes for an enhanced playability for those with smaller hands or for those who have aspirations of playing fast and moving quickly.

In truth, this is a great budget guitar about which no beginner will have any complaints.

If you are not too sniffy about simplicity, the Epiphone DR-100 is the acoustic for you. The guitar’s neck makes this the supreme beginner acoustic for playability – and, for its price, you can’t really argue with the tone.

Pros:

• The SlimTaper neck allows for a lovely playability.
• The DR-100’s sound is fantastic for this price.

Cons:

This model comes from a relatively unknown brand, Donner. However, they have earned themselves a reputation for quality instruments for beginners.

The DAG-1C comes with a full set of accessories that will perfectly match the needs and expectations of any beginner, including a case, a strap, and a capo. It also includes a digital tuner that will make it easier to tune the instrument for those who are not used to do it manually.

The guitar features a 41-inch cutaway – a rarity for package models that allows the player to reach the higher frets. It also comes with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides – a standard combination for beginner acoustics that offers both versatility and a well-rounded sound.

It goes without saying that the DAG-1C’s tonewood is entirely laminate, which limits the instrument’s resonance a little. However, in a package like this, such a limitation will hardly be noticed.

To be quite frank, no-one but a beginner would buy a Donner Dag-1C. However, this is because it is the perfect acoustic for beginners, with an unarguably impressive array of completely necessary bonuses. This is the pick for no-fuss bedroom players – and it will not disappoint.

Pros:

• The DAG-1C comes a bundle of accessories that are essential for any beginner.

Cons:

• The sound quality of this Donner model is not going to impress professionals.

*the best beginner guitar for lovers of the blues*

Whilst Squier is now known for offering budget replicas of Fender’s pricier models, this does them a bit of an injustice. The company is owned by Fender and is really just the name given to Fender’s more basic models. However, whilst they are more basic, this is not to say that they are bad guitars at all. Rather, they make the perfect electric guitars for beginners – particularly this one, the Bullet Strat.

Really, the Bullet Strat is indistinguishable from its more expensive cousin – at least in looks. The finish ranges from pink to ‘sunburst’ – through the classic white, black, and red – and the familiar white pickguard is on all these variations.

The Bullet Strat’s solid body is basswood, and it has a floating bridge with a tremolo bar. The guitar comes with a couple of different pick-up variations, so you can choose between either a full set of three single-coils, or you can throw a humbucker in there for good luck. Regardless of what you choose in this regard, the guitar sounds good, particularly for playing the blues and jazz. To be quite honest, for the price, it doesn’t just sound good; it sounds incredible.

Whether you are playing blues, jazz, or heavy metal, you won’t go wrong with this serious offer from Squier. For those who are committed to the blues, however, the Bullet Strat is definitely the right choice: get it with the three single coils.

Pros

• In terms of what you get for your money, you can’t do much better than this.
• The guitar feels solid and well put together.

Cons

• The tremolo arm might be a little too sensitive, and it can sometimes put you out of tune.

Although Yamaha is not a brand that people usually associate with the guitar, the company’s Pacifica PAC112V is probably the go-to entry-level guitar, and it is surely the best-selling beginner model on the market. This is because it is incredibly cheap for what it offers – and what it offers, really, is exceptionally high quality.

The Pacifica is based, stylistically, on the Fender Stratocaster, probably the most iconic electric guitar there is. Yet, Yamaha’s model adds a couple of twists to the classic: the horns of the Pacifica are notably longer, for example, and the curves are less severe than on the Strat.

Other than that, the main difference is that, rather than the three single-coil pick-ups, the Pacifica offers two single-coils and a humbucker at the bridge. This adds a greater versatility of tone, offering both the breadth of sound of a humbucker and the clarity of a single-coil.

It also boasts, like the classic Stratocaster, a tremolo bridge and a smart, solid alder body.

With the PAC112V there is no harm going with the crowds. The Pacifica is a crowd-pleaser precisely because of its versatility – and so whilst it might have a very recognisable look, this electric gives you the opportunity to craft a sound that is entirely your own. The only drawback is its weight, which is not much of a drawback at all – particularly for this price.

Pros

• Cheaper than its inspiration, the Stratocaster, but with much of the same aesthetic and technical quality.
• Versatile sound, and a winner for beginners.

Cons

• Slightly heavier than other models, which makes it slightly less appropriate for kids.

Fender are one of the undisputed masters of electric guitar-making, with the Stratocaster and the Telecaster sitting among the most famous models in history. With the Modern Player Tele Plus, Fender have taken the design of the Telecaster and have adapted it to make one of the most brilliant and stylish beginner guitars on the market.

Bucking the trend of most Fender models, this Tele is fitted with a triple pick-up system that includes a bridge humbucker. This prudent variation offers a greater versatility, swapping the jangly sound of the Fender classic for a broader sonic range suitable for all sorts of music.

What makes the Tele Plus more affordable than most Fender guitars is its pine body which, whilst a little like spruce tonally, is not so durable as the more familiar guitar tonewoods. However, as is the case for the entirety of the Fender range, the manufacture is impeccable.

Otherwise, the fixed bridge and standard maple neck and fingerboard make this a joy to play, maintain, and behold.

It may be the most expensive guitar on the list. But with Fender, you’re not only paying for the name, but for a reliability and aesthetic that is untouched among electric guitar manufacturers. The Modern Player Tele Plus is a beauty of a guitar, and, in leaving many of the Fender orthodoxies behind, it is also a brilliant option for beginners.

Pros

• A fantastic option for beginners who want reliable quality and classic design at an affordable price.

Cons

• The neck pick-up hums noticeably, but that is really a feature of all cheaper electric guitars.  

*the best beginner guitar for metalheads*

Epiphone is to Gibson what Squier is to Fender. Meanwhile, the Les Paul is Gibson’s Stratocaster. Probably one of the most famous guitars on the planet, the Les Paul has been played by the likes of Slash, Jimmy Page, and Bob Marley. Epiphone, luckily, has made it available to the world with a price that won’t break the bank. And it’s an excellent guitar for those starting to play rock music.

In terms of design, the Les Paul Special II doesn’t need much of introduction. It looks like a Les Paul, but the finishes it offers are limited – to distinguish it from its more expensive variants.

This model retains the classic Tune-O-Matic bridge for which Gibson is known, something that makes it really easy to tune and restring. Note, therefore, that there is no floating bridge.

With a distinctive body made from a mix of mahogany and maple, as well as two Epiphone brand humbucker pick-ups, this guitar is the perfect entry into the world of rock and roll. It is designed to be turned up loud, and it handles the distorted sound of metal well.

Rock music would be nothing without the Les Paul, and now Epiphone have given beginners the perfect tool to become rock stars themselves. Besides its striking design, Epiphone’s Les Paul is a brilliantly and considerately made guitar, that favours ease of use over fiddly extras. For a metalhead, it is without doubt the best beginner option.

Pros

• It looks like a Les Paul, and almost sounds like the real deal too.
• A really fantastic and fairly-priced beginner guitar for those who want to play rock music.

Cons

• No tremolo bridge.
• The limited number of designs make it less appealing from an aesthetic perspective.

*the best beginner electric for smaller players*

Jackson guitars are known for metal – being played and endorsed by some of the greats of heavy music, including players from Megadeth, Machine Head, and Def Leppard. However, this little guitar – the JS22 Dinky Minion – is great for all, and not, as the name suggests, just those of the ‘dinkier’ persuasion.

This model offers all the perks of a Jackson guitar – a thin neck, heavy humbucker pick-ups, and a dazzling finish – but it comes with a shape that is entirely thinned out, making it lighter and more comfortable to play. It is still full-size, but the neck is littler than average, and its back is shaved away at the higher frets to make for quicker playing, and therefore easier soloing.

Whilst it has a whammy bar, you might not want to go too wild on it, as it isn’t the strongest thing in the world. Its humbuckers too might make the tone a little less versatile than you might like but, otherwise, the JS22 Dinky provides a sound which is surprisingly full, when played both distorted and clean.

The Jackson JS22 is really a metalhead’s guitar, and for this audience, it is fantastic. For others, it might be less so, but it should remain a real consideration for anyone that is after a really lightweight and playable electric.

Pros

• Its thinner shape sacrifices none of the quality expected from Jackson.

Cons

• The humbuckers can sound a little muddy on the lower notes.

As the bass is designed for a different role in the band – and therefore for a different style of playing – you’ll need to consider some distinct things when looking for your first instrument.

Bass guitars are generally bigger and their strings thicker, whilst the lower pitch they need to produce requires some specific characteristics. Be aware particularly, then, that the effects of the tonewood can be different, and the pick-ups will be slightly adapted to deal with the bass-heavy tone.

Whilst ash and alder are common tonewoods, like in the electric guitar, beginners will probably see a lot of models made with agathis, a cheaper wood that replicates their balanced range and the clarity of their output. On the other hand, mahogany is a lot more popular in basses than ‘normal’ electrics, as the warmth and resonance produced by this wood nicely complements the lower range of the instrument, whilst preventing the higher notes from being too twangy and percussive.

Regarding pick-ups, the bass-playing community is divided by a different choice. Whilst you should keep in mind the humbucker and single-coil, you will also be considering passive vs active. It’s true that almost every beginner bass will be fitted with passive pick-ups as standard, as these are the long-standing classics of the bass sound: they give the full-bodied and round sound that you expect of a bass guitar.

You’ll know if your bass has an active pick-up, however, as these require a battery. As such, they produce the tone as much as they receive it from the strings, and they give you more of an opportunity to play with the sound that your bass will ultimately make.

Finally, then, as a beginner, you’re going to have the option to play an acoustic bass and even a fretless bass. The acoustic, put simply, won’t need to be plugged in, and so will only be played by bands or musicians that play exclusively acoustic sets (this, most likely, won’t be you). The fretless is a wonderful machine that allows you to play pitches that sit between the most common notes, something a bit like a violin. For these, you’re going to need an excellent ear – something that a beginner probably won’t have (no offence!). A newbie would be wiser to leave these aside and stick to a fretted, electric bass.

Oh, and, before you ask, get yourself a four-string model. Unless you’re a superhero and expect to become virtuosic in a couple of months, it’s unlikely that you’ll need the extra strings.

Classical guitars are a world of their own, but they are often lumped under acoustic guitars more generally. Most of the very budget acoustic guitar models will strictly be ‘classical’, but this is really a bit condescending.

Note for now that classical guitars use nylon strings, rather than the acoustics’ steel ones. The nylon strings are slightly easier to play, and they produce a sweeter and warmer tone than steel. However, nylon strings also require much less tension, so the bodies and neck of classical guitars are usually not as strong as their acoustic cousins. As such, it is really unwise to string a classical guitar with steel strings.

In terms of playability, you will probably see that nylon strings are a little easier, as they don’t require as much effort from your fingers as the steel strings. Classical guitars have a wider neck and fingerboard too, which can be a blessing or a curse for beginners.

You’ll also find that it is more common for cedar to be used as a tonewood for the classical guitar, rather than spruce, as that greater clarity is preferable for the style of music played on the classicals.

Why should you start with Classical Guitar?

A lot of beginners who want to learn ‘the guitar’ – rather than any specific type of guitar – often go for a classical. This is mainly because they are cheap (some can be dirt cheap, and are best avoided), and because they are slightly easier on the fingers. Here are some of the best entry-level models. Alongside the specialist manufacturers, you’ll notice some familiar brands too.